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WRC - Rallye Deutschland - Preview

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10.08.18

After four consecutive gravel rallies, the FIA World Rally Championship contenders return to asphalt competition for the ninth round of the series. Rallye Deutschland is regarded as one of the trickiest sealed surface events, largely due to the variety of different roads and potentially inclement weather that can make tyre choice such a gamble.

The event was first held in 1982, running as part of the FIA European Rally Championship, and was included in the WRC in 2002. It provides a complete mix of conditions for the crews with narrow and twisty stages in the vineyards, daunting concrete roads in the tank training grounds at Baumholder, as well as more flowing country roads around the Mosel valley. The level of concentration and stamina is high and, if the weather conditions change through the day, the work of the route note crews permitted on asphalt events is even more critical. Running ahead of the competitors, these crews relay the most up to date information about road and weather conditions to their team, helping to provide an accurate assessment of what to expect. 

Thierry Neuville continues to head the Championship standings, he and arch rival Sébastien Ogier split by 21 points going into an event where road-sweeping duties will not be a factor. After his impressive victory in Finland, Ott Tänak also made inroads on the Championship leaders, but the Estonian remains focused on maximum rally-by-rally points before thinking about a challenge for the title. Hyundai dropped only a handful of points to M-Sport Ford in Finland and continue to lead the Manufacturers’ Championship. However, after a double podium finish last time out, Toyota has significantly closed the gap to M-Sport Ford, just one point separating the two. The FIA WRC 2 Championship contenders are also back in action, an impressive 19 crews registering for this event. Series leader Pontus Tidemand again sits out this round, but his nearest rival, asphalt expert Jan Kopecký, will be looking to head a strong field and take maximum points to retake the lead in this hotly contested series. There is also a tight battle in the FIA WRC 3 Championship, which is currently being led by Jean-Baptiste Franceschi who has not nominated this event as a points-scoring round.

ROUTE GRAPHICS

2018-germany-map-ss.png

THE 2018 ROUTE

The area around St. Wendel takes centre stage for the start and finish ceremonies and an all-new super special stage opens the action on Thursday evening. Friday heads into the vineyards for two identical loops of three stages, the opener – Stein und Wein – not included in the itinerary since 2015. Saturday’s stage distance, at 150.12 kilometres, makes up nearly 50% of the entire competitive route and takes the contenders into the feared military camp of Baumholder where avoiding the massive hinkelstein kerbs, which are designed to keep tanks on the road, adds to the challenge. The day also includes two runs through the longest stage of the event, Panzerplatte. Sunday is back to the scenic roads in the Mosel vineyards for three stages, one of which is repeated. The final Power Stage takes the crews to Bosenberg, which has also not been run since 2015. The podium and prize-giving will then take place in St. Wendel.

Three stages will be broadcast live on television: SS1 on Thursday, SS12 on Saturday and the closing Power Stage. All stages are however available live on WRC All Live on the WRC+ platform.

RALLY DATA

 

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,221.89 km
325.76 km (26.7%)
18

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The Accreditation Centre is located at Victor’s Seehotel Weingärtner, Bostalstraße 12, D-66625 Nohfelden-Bosen. The opening hours are:

Tuesday 14 August
Wednesday 15 August
Thursday 16 August
Friday 17 August

14:00 - 18:00 hrs
08:00 - 21:00 hrs
07:00 - 18:00 hrs
08:00 - 14:00 hrs

RALLYE DEUTSCHLAND TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Wednesday 15 August
Mandatory media safety briefing, Photographers' room

Thursday 16 August
Shakedown (P1 drivers)
Shakedown (P2 and P3 drivers)
Shakedown (non Priority drivers)
'Meet the Crews', Service Park
FIA Press Conference, Press Room
Start, Service Park
Presentation of drivers and autograph session, St. Wendel
SS1, St. Wendel

Friday 17 August
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone
'Meet the Crews', Service Park

Saturday 18 August
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone
'Meet the Crews', Service Park

Sunday 19 August
Regroup, Morbach
Regroup, Bostalsee
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony, St. Wendel
FIA Press Conference, Press Room 


17:00 hrs


08:00 - 11:30 hrs
09:30 - 11:30 hrs
11:30 - 13:30 hrs
12:00 hrs
12:30 hrs
14:45 hrs
17:00 hrs
19:08 hrs


13:43 hrs
19:11 hrs
During the 48' service


13:10 hrs
19:30 hrs  
During the 48' service


08:39 hrs
11:12 hrs
13:00 hrs
14:15 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 16 August









Sunday 19 August

Enrico Brazzoli, FIA WRC 3 Championship
Lario Taisko, FIA WRC 3 Championship
Pierre-Louis Loubet, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Jan Kopecký, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Marijan Griebel
Mads Østberg, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Dani Sordo, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team
Sébastien Ogier, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
Ott Tänak, Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team

Winning FIA WRC 3 Championship crew
Winning FIA WRC 2 Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning competitor

MANUFACTURER ENTRIES, RALLYE DEUTSCHLAND

M-Sport Ford WRT



Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT



Toyota GAZOO 
Racing WRT


Citroën Total Abu Dhabi
WRT 

Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (#1)
Elfyn Evans / Daniel Barritt (#2)
Teemu Suninen / Mikko Markkula (#3)

Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger (#4)
Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (#5)
Dani Sordo / Carlos Del Barrio (#6)

Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila (#7)
Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (#8)
Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm (#9)

Mads Østberg / Torstein Eriksen (#10)
Craig Breen / Scott Martin (#11)

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas. 

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2018/standings

STAGE CHART

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2018/stage-chart-7